Gravity buoyancy pump



Dct. L4, 1952 J BEAM 2,613,608

. GRAVITY BUOYANCY PUMP Filed Sept. 21, 1949 IN V EN TOR. Jo/v BEAM BY (M Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAVITY BUOYANCY PUMP Jon Beam, Blue Ridge, Ga.

Application September 21, 1949, Serial No. 116,875

.8 Claims. (Cl. 103-56) This invention relates to an improved type of buoyancy pump and is particularly concerned with a pump which derives its source of power from the feed stream thereto.

My pump finds particular adaptability for use on farms, summer cottages, camps and various similar establishments in which no source of electrical power is available or in which the cost of pumping is excessive. Because of the fact that my pump will require very little attention or maintenance, it is very well adapted for use on farms for irrigation purposes. However, it will be evident that for best adaptability of the pump it must be located on a stream or spring to provide the necessary water as the source of power. If large type units are employed and sufficient water is available, the pump can be used to raise the water to a high enough level to operate water power equipment. Also, my pump will be useful to level and maintain the level of small lakes and ponds such as fishing ponds and swimming pools from a nearby stream where a small change in level of the flowing stream is available or could be created.

My buoyancy pump comprises, in brief, a chamber having an inlet thereto through which fluids under a low pressure can flow into the chamber, a float within said chamber having a piston attached thereto, said piston being placed in a cylinder in which water is introduced and discharged by the movement of the piston in the cylinder, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber, said second chamber having a float within it actuating a valve in the inlet line of said first chamber and an outlet from said second chamber positioned in such a manner as to permit draining thereof.

Another modification of my pump comprises a chamber having an inlet thereto through which fluids under low pressure can flow into the chamher, a tub-shaped float within the chamber having a piston attached thereto, a cylinder communicating with said chamber and housing said piston, a continuous U-shaped skirt extending over the wall of the tub-shaped float, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber and containing a second float which actuates a valve in the inlet to said first chamber and an outlet from said second chamber positioned in such a manner as to permit draining thereof. It is a feature of this modification that the force on the piston is increased and a pump capable of providing greater discharge pressures is obtained and the power output can be regulated to obtain various discharge pressures.

Figure 1 of the drawing illustrates in vertical sectional view one modification of my buoyancy pump, comprising in brief a chamber having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, a float Within said chamber having a piston attached thereto, said float actuating a piston to effect the introduction and discharge of water or other fluid by the pump, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber having a float within it actuating a valve in the inlet line of said first chamber and an outlet from said second chamber positioned in such a manner as to permit draining thereof.

Figure 2 of the drawing illustrates in vertical sectional View another modification of my buoyancy pump which comprises a chamber having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom through which fluids under low pressure can be introduced and discharged from the chambena tub-- shaped float within the chamber attached to a piston, actuating said piston to effect the intake and discharge of fluid from a cylinder communicating with said chamber and housing said piston, a continuous .U shaped skirt extending over the wall of the tub-shaped float, a second chamber communicating with said first chamher, and containing a second float which actuates a valve within said first chamber and an outlet from said second chamber to permit draining thereof.

Additional features and advantages will be more apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings and the description thereof.

Referring to Figure 1 which is a vertical sectional view of my improved pumping apparatus, numeral l is used to designate a chamber having an inlet 2, outlets 3 and. 4 and vent 5, the latter being located in the upper portion of the chamber. The float 6 is mounted within chamber I having an arm 1 extending downwardly through the bottom surface of the float and through the bottom of chamber l. Float 6 may be of a floatable material like cork, wood, etc. or may be a sealed metal tank made of alumi num or Dow metal. Piston 8 is attached to the end of the arm or piston rod 1 and is used in cylinder 9. Numeral l0 designates a system of conduits or pipes connecting the cylinder with chamber 1 and containing valves ll, l2, l3 and I4 acting as suction and discharge valves as piston 13 is movedv back and forth in cylinder '9 by the movement of float 6 in chamber I. Packing section It prevents leaking of water in chamber l during the movement of piston rod 1. The numeral. l6. designates an outlet from chamber l which communicates with inlet ll of chamber I8 shown in the drawing as contiguous with chamber I. Although in the drawing chambers I and I8 are shown as one large piece of apparatus with two separate compartments and the baflie means as a common wall forming an inverted U-shaped passageway between the outlet of chamber I and inlet I! of chamber I8. two separate chambers can be employed with a U-shaped conduit such as a pipe or tubing connecting the two chambers, with the one end of the conduit extending into chamber I and downwardly so that the end is positioned near the bottom of the chamber. It is important, however, in both modes of construction that chamber I8 be positioned below chamber I so that the siphoning action hereinafter described can be maintained to effect the emptying of the water from chamber I into chamber I8. The same sort of arrangement can be employed in the pump shown in Figure 2. The numeral I9 designates a valve stem or rod having a float 20 attached at one end and a valve plug 21 attached at the other end. This valve plug is seated in valve seat 22 located in inlet 2 to regulate the flow of liquid into the chamber I. Numerals 22, 23, 24 and 25 designate stops on the upper surface of float B which prevent the float from contacting the top of chamber I.

Referring to Figure 2 the pump shown therein is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 1 with the exception that float 26 is a dish-shaped or tub-shaped float. Also in this modification the continuous U-shaped skirt designated by numeral 21 extends over the wall offloat 26. The bottom of the skirt extending down the exterior wall of the float is serrated. A gasket of rubber or leather is located on the underside of the U.-shaped skirt. While the skirt in most instances is made of a light metal such as aluminum or other metal, it may be made of plastic, rubber, or some other mate rial which upon contact with the upper end of the float would form a seal and thus dispense with the necessity of having the above described gasket. The purpose of this gasket will be explained hereinafter in this specification.

To facilitate the understanding of my invention a typical operation is described below.

Referring to Figure 1, inlet 2 is located in some desirable. stream having a suflicient head to operate the pump in a manner described below. Water enters the line 2 into chamber I and gradually fills the chamber. As the level of t e water rises in chamber I float rises also, pulling piston 8 and effecting the circulation through valve II filling cylinder 9 with water through the conduit or piping system III. Air is vented from the chamber I through vent 5. When the water level reaches the height of the wall between outlet I6 and chamber I and inlet ll of chamber I8, it spills over into chamber I8 and since the outlet 29 is of smaller cross section than inlet I'I, chamber I8 is gradually filled causing float 28 to rise seating valve plug 2I in seat 22, cutting off the flow of water in chamber I. However, the siphoning action started by the overflow of water out of outlet I6 into inlet I! in chamber I and out of outlet 29 is continued causing float 6 to fall, forcing piston 8 down and discharging water through valve I2. As is shown in the drawing, cylinder 9 is located below chamber I and is always filled with water which gravitates into the cylinder through piping system I0. Thus when piston 8' is raised, water is discharged through valve 9 and when it is lowered, water is introduced through valve I3 and discharged through valve I2. Upon completion of the draining of chamber 8 the float 20 drops and water is introduced again into chamber I and the cycle is repeated and the pumping continued.

Referring to Figure 2, the pump illustrated is the same as that shown in Figure 1 with the exception that float 6 of Figure 1 is replaced by float 26. Float 26 consists of a pan-shaped or tub-shaped float having a continuous U-shaped skirt designated by the numeral 2'! hanging over the wall of the float. The outer side of this skirt is longer than the height of the wall of the tub-like float and has serrations or grooves on the bottom edge. A gasket surface designated by the numeral 28 of rubber, leather or similar material is found on the inside sur" face of the skirt at the apex of the U-shaped skirt positioned so as to engage the top edge of the float Wall. In some installations the gasket may be omitted and the skirt itself made of a material such that a seal is obtained by contact with the upper edge of the float seal, such materials would include rubber, plastic, etc.

The operation of the pump shown in Figure 2 is as follows:

Water enters inlet 2 into chamber I. As the water enters chamber I it flows underneath the base of the skirt through the serrations at the bottom of the skirt causing the float to rise, which in turn causes piston 8 to be pulled upward introducing water into cylinder 9 through valve II and discharging water through valve I4. As water continues to rise in chamber I, the top edge of the wall of the float contacts the skirt forming a seal between the skirt and the float. The water will continue to rise until piston 8 has been withdrawnby the upward movement of float 26 to the full extent of its stroke in cylinder 9. At this point the upward movement of the float is terminated but the water level will continue to rise until it reaches the height of common wall of outlet. I6 and inlet I I. The water overflows into. the tub-shaped float until it is substantially filled. Water from chamber I overflows through outlet I5 into chamber I8 through inlet. I'I-. Discharge line 29 is designed. so that it has a smaller cross sectional areathan inlet I1 and a water level will gradually flll up in chamber I8 causing float 20 to rise, seat plug 2| in valve seat 22 and stop the flow of water into chamber I. Water will continue to drain out of chambers I and2 because of the siphoning action set up previously. As the level in chamber I descends, the buoyancy effect on float 26 is decreased and the float also descends because of the excessive weight of the float (that is of the water contained therein). The float and chamber are sized and outlet and inlets designed so that the water level in chamber I will be below the top of the wall of the float when the skirt contacts the bottom of chamber I. When the bottom edge of the skirt contacts the bottom of the chamber, the seal previously set up between the edge of the float wall and gasket is broken. Since the water level in the float is higher than that of the chamber, and higher than the top of the wall of the float, a second siphoning effect is set up and water discharges from the float through the passageway between the skirt and the wall of the float causing the float to be emptied. However, because of the excessive weight the float has descended rapidly creating suihcient power to force piston 8 down in cylinder 9 discharging water out of valve l2 and introducing water into the cylinder through valve I3. The siphoning action set up by the breaking of the seal continues until the floatis emptied as well as chambers I and 2 and thereafter float 20 descends, opening the valve in inlet 2 startingthe flow of water into chamber I adaptable for use in outlying regions, especially if no'power source is available in such regions.

' I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having an inlet and venting means in the upper portion thereof, and an outlet in the lower portion thereof, a float movably mounted within said chamber, a cylinder positioned below said chamber, a piston housed by said cylinder and connected to said float, conduit connecting the lower portion of said chamber with said cylinder, a second chamber positioned below said first chamber and communicating therewith having an inlet in the upper portion thereof and an outlet of smaller crosssectional area than the inlet thereof, means forming an inverted U-shaped passageway between the outlet of said first chamber and the inlet to said second chamber, a float in said second chamber, a valve in the inlet to said first chamber actuated by the float in said second chamber and valving means in the conduit connecting said cylinder with said first chamber whereby water is introduced and discharged from said cylinder by the upward and downward movement of the piston.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having an inlet and venting means in the upper portion thereof, and an outlet in the lower portion thereof, a float movably mounted within said chamber, a cylinder positioned below said chamber, a piston housed by said cylinder and connected to said float, conduit connecting the lower portion of said chamber with said cylinder, a second chamber, communicating with said first chamber, a bafiie forming an inverted U-shaped passageway between the inlet of said second chamber and the outlet of said first chamber, a float in said second chamber, a valve in the inlet to said first chamber actuated by the fioat in said second chamber and valving means in the conduit connecting said cylinder with said first chamber whereby water is introduced and discharged from said cylinder by the upward and downward movement of the piston.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having a fluid inlet and venting means thereto and a fluid outlet from the lower portion thereof, a valve at said fluid inlet, a movable float within said chamber, a cylinder positioned below said chamber having inlet conduit means connecting the latter with both the upper and lower portions of said cylinder and discharge ports from both the upper and lower portions thereof, a movable piston positioned within said cylinder and connected with said float within said chamber, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber, a bafile forming an inverted U-shaped fluid passageway between said fluid outlet from said first chamber and said second chamber, an inlet to said second chamber from said fluid passageway and an out- 1% means from the lower portion of said second chamber having a smaller cross-sectional area than said inlet thereto, a float in said second chamber connected to said valve at said fluid inlet to said first chamber whereby said lastmentioned float actuates said valve to cut oif fluid flow to the first chamber when both-of said chambers are substantially filled andto open said valve after both of said chambers are substantially emptied, said inverted U-shaped passageway operative to siphon liquid from said first chamber to said second chamber when said valve is closed, and valving means in said inlet conduit and discharge ports connected to said cylinder whereby said piston therein serves to fill said cylinder with liquid and discharge liquid therefrom as said piston moves up and down with said connecting float.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having an inlet and venting means in the upper portion thereof and an outlet in the lower portion thereof, a valve at the inlet to said chamber, a tub-like float movably mounted within said chamber, an inverted U-shaped continuous skirt extending over the wall of said tub-like float having a gasket surface positioned to engage the top edge ofv said float and said skirt extending below the bottom of said float, a cylinder positioned below said chamber, a piston housed by said cylinder and connected to said float, conduit connecting the lower portion of said chamber with said cylinder, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber and positioned at a lower elevation than said first chamber, means forming an inverted U-shaped passageway between the outlet of said first chamber and the inlet to said second chamber, a float in said second chamber actuating the valve in the inlet to said first chamber, and valving means within the conduit connecting the lower portion ofsaid first chamber with said cylinder to control the introduction of fluid into said cylinder and the discharge of fluid from said cylinder by the movement of the piston housed therein.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having an inlet and venting means in the upper portion and an outlet in the lower portion thereof, a valve at the inlet to said chamber, a tub-like float movably mounted within said chamber, an inverted 'U- shaped continuous skirt extending over the wall of said tub-like float having a gasket surface positioned to engage the top edge of said float forming a seal and said skirt extending below the bottom of said float, a cylinder positioned below said chamber, a piston housed by said cylinder and connected to said float, conduit connecting the lower portion of said chamber with said cylinder, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber and positioned at a lower elevation than said first chamber, means forming an inverted 'U-shaped passageway between the outlet of said first chamber and the inlet of said second chamber, a float in said second chamber actuating the valve in the inlet to said first chamber, and valving means within the conduit connecting the lower portion of said first chamber with said cylinder to control the introduction of fluid into said cylinder and the discharge of fluid from said cylinder by the movement of the piston housed therein.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having an inlet and venting means in the upper portion thereof and an outlet in the lower portion thereof, a valve atithe inlet tosaid chamber, a tub-like float mov ably mounted within said chamber, an inverted U-shaped continuous serrated skirt extending over the wall of said tub-like float having a gasket surface positioned to engage the top edge of said float forming a seal and said skirt extending below the bottom of said float, a, cylinder positioned below said chamber, a piston housed by said cylinder and connected to said float, conduit connecting the lower portion of said chamber with said cylinder, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber and positioned at a lower elevation than said first chamber, means forming an inverted U-shaped passageway between the outlet of said first chamber and the inlet of said second chamber, a float in said second chamber actuating the valve in the inlet to said first chamber, and valving means within the conduit connecting the lower portion of said first chamber with said cylinder to control the introduction of fluid into said cylinder and the discharge of fluid into said cylinder and the discharge of fluid from said cylinder by the movement of the piston housed therein.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having an inlet and venting means in the upper portion thereof and anoutlet in the lower portion thereof, a valve at the inlet to said chamber, a tub-like float movably mounted within said chamber, an inverted U-shaped continuous skirt extending over the wall of said tub-like float having a gasket surface positioned to engage the top edge of said float and said skirt extending below the bottom of said float, a cylinder positioned below said chamber, a piston housed by said cylinder and connected to said float, conduit connecting the lower portion of said chamber with said cylinder, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber and positioned at a lower elevation than said first chamber, a baffle forming a U-shaped passageway between the outlet of said first chamber and the inlet to said second chamber, a float in said second chamber actuating the valve in the inlet to said firstchamber, and valving means within the conduit connecting the lower portion of said first chamber with said cylinder to control the introduction of fluid into said cylinder and the discharge of fluid from said cylinder by the movement of the piston housed therein.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a chamber having an inlet and venting means in the upper portion thereof and an outlet in the lower portion thereof, a valve at the inlet to said chamber, a tub-like float movably mounted within said chamber, an inverted U-shaped continuous serrated skirt extending over the wall of said tub-like float, said skirt being made of a material which when engaged with the top edge of the float forms a water tight seal, a cylinder positioned below said chamber, a piston housed by said cylinder and connected to said float, conduit connecting the lower portion of said chamber with said cylinder, a second chamber communicating with said first chamber and positioned at a lower elevation than said first chamber, means forming an inverted U-shaped passageway between the outlet of said first chamber and the inlet of said second chamber, a float in said second chamber actuating the valve in the inlet to said first chamber, and valving means within the conduit connecting the lower portion of said first chamber with said cylinder to control the introduction of fluid into said cylinder and the discharge of fluid from said cylinder by the movement of the piston housed therein.

JON BEAM.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fouchee Sept. 1, 1925 Number 

